Flying-machine.



M. B. SELLERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAI. a1, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1909.

4 sums-sum 1.

5 fl N m E 5 E w E w W \N E w E M. B. SELLERS;

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JALSI, 1908.

927,289. Patented July 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSE INENTOf? u i MATTHEW E. SELLERS 8) ATTORNEYS M. B. SELLERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED J-AN.31, 1908.

927,289. r Patented July 6,1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. W T E5853 INVENTOI? w MATTHEWE SELLER A TTORNE Y S M. B.v SELLERS.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1908.

4 sums-inn 4.

A A a.

Patented July 6, 1909.

INVENTO H E- SELLER s A TTOHNE YS' 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation.

UNITED sTATEs MATTHEW B. SELLERS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FLYING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 31, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 413,511.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW B. SELLERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cityof Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, ofwhich the following is aspecification.

This invention is an improvement in flying machines and consists in certain novel arrangements and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention when used as a gliding machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the devices by which I secure a regulation or control of the machine. Fig. 7 is a pers )ective View (seen from front and side) of t e machine. Fig. 8 is a detail View illustrating the means connecting the s ars and for securing the cover of the wing. Fig. 9 shows the coupling bar used to connect the wires. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the casin Fi 11 is a detail View of the knee bloc us to connect the spars when the wings are placed at a dihedral angle.

My invention relates to that class of flyin I machines in which the weight is supporte by the air impinging on one or more surfaces, inclined at a small angle of incident and in motion relative to the air, whether this mo tion is produced by the movement of the air, or by gravity, or by a propelling mechanism. When the motion is produced by gravity, the machine is known as a gliding machine; and I illustrate and describe my invention in that form, (because the simplest); but I do not confine myself to its use in that manner; as it is equally suitable as a power driven machine.

The object of this invention is to produce a better arrangement of surfaces and framing; better stability, and control. In this invention I arrange the surfaces in steps, the highest surface being in front. This arrange ment of the surfaces gives greater efficiency than any other, but it is difficult to devise a frame for this articularv grouping of surfaces, which shal fbe light, sufficiently strong and rigid; and have small wind resistance. My invention accomplishes this; and also offers facility for the application of the regulating device to be described.

When a sudden gust strikes a compound aeroplane or when its speed is accelerated, it tends to tip up in front; and this tendency Furthermore, when desired the operator may depress the rear of a wing by pulling on a cord or bysome other well known device.

In the form of the device here shown are four aeroplanes A, A, B, B, C, C, D, D,

each consisting of two so-ealled wings A and A joined at the center by suitable couplings. Each wing A, Fig. 8, is arched from front to rear and com rises two spa-rs T and T, and a covering U aving transverse ribs Ufastened thereto, the covering having pockets U into which the spins are slid in erecting the wing as here shown. The ribs are held, in a bowed form by the span wires X, this wing construction being claimed in my Patent No. 886,159, issued April 28 1908, on an ap lication No. 385,323, filed jul 24, 1907. hese four wings are sup rted y four transverse inclined struts E, E E, E which are suitably fastened to the front ribs T of the res ective wings where they cross said ribs.

he rear spars Tf, form no part of the framework but are free except as su ported by the devices K, L, M, N, herea ter described. The frame formed by the spars T and struts E etc. is braced by the diagonal tie wires 0, 0, etc. and is sup rted in an inclined position by the posts ,,F, and the base rails G, G, connected at their front end by the bar Q. Stay wires R, R, connect the juncture of parts Qand G with the six lower spars T at points near the crossing of the struts E, E, etc. The ost H fastened to the spar B, B, at H and t e post I fastened at I, carry the s ine J at the points J and J 2 and sup rt t e covering J forming a fin J. This 11 is not absolutely necessary for all operations of the machine and I do not confine myself to this form but I find it very convenient with a gliding machine as it is not in the way, revents sheering, and makes the machine ace the relative wind. Stay wires run from the mint J to points E, E B and B and from 2 to C, C and I), D. From the point H on the post H wires run to points A, A B, B, (L and C The posts at the crossings B and B have stay wires running from their ends to B B, A, C and 13 ,3 A, C res ectively. These connections are shown in l ig. 1 of the drawings. In fastening the various wires to their staples the hooked coupling rod, shown in Fig. 9, is used, this rod is described and claimed. in my Patent No. 886,159, issued April 28, 1908, on an application No. 385,323 filed July 24, 1907, and before referred to. In this construction of coupling rod, it will be noticed the coupling rod is bent between its ends forming an eye F and having a shank beyond on the said eye,

and a line wire is extended around the shank and through the eye and around the same and then Wound around the shank toward the extremity thereof and twisted at the said extremity of the shank around the line Wire and thence twisted back around the shank and wire and passed through the loo or eye and around the same as more fully illustrated and described in my patent above referred to. y

I havehere shown a machine with four surfaces. that number as it is evident a greater or less number can be used. In the power driven machine a movable rudder of any suitable well known designinay be added. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show different forms of the regulating device. That shown in Fig. 5 is preferably used on the upper wings (this figure showing it as seen from the side of the machine and as shown also at K, in Fig. 3). A guide bar 1 projecting down from the lower end of the rod K slides freely in the 100 as 2 on the strut E. The upper end of the rod K has a concentric bore, and a slot at 3 intersecting said bore, and the rod 1 slides at the lower end freely in the bore; but its motion is lim ited by the lateral bend 8 at its lower end. The upper end of rod 4 is suitably fastened to the spar T and it is forced out to its limit and held there by the spring 5. The spring 6 extending from the upper end of the rod K,

. to the strut E resists the lift of the wing and holds the rod K down against the loop 2. When, however, the pressure on the wing exceeds the tension at which the spring is ad justed, the spring yields and the Wing is allowed to tip up thus diminishing the angle of incident automatically. Furthermore, a cord 7 (see Fig. 3) is attached to the spar T, and is led in any suitable manner to a point convenient to the operator and attached to any suitable lever or handle; in the drawing it is shown attached to a ring; it must how ever, be slack. When the operator desires he may depress the wing or portion thereof by pulling on this cord. It will be seen that here the automatic and the voluntary regulation are independent (or rather do not in- I do not, however, limit myself to senses terfere with each other). Fig. 6 shows the same device as Fig. 5 except that the voluntary regulation is omitted and the spring 6 is attached directly to the spar T.

Fig. 4 shows another form of the regulating device used on this machine. The fork L straddles the strut E and is fastened at its upper end to the spar T. The springs 11 and 12 hold the fork and the wing in the desired position and the auxiliary spring 6, Fig. 3, together with the spring 12 resists the lift of the wing. This device, While accomplishing the same result as the one before described, does it in a different manner; and it is used on this. machine, and is here described, because it has been found peculiarly applicable to the lower wings; while the other device was found more suitable for the upper wings.

Owing to want of room in this machine the lowest aeroplane is supported by the stays from the point J to the point 1, etc.

and the springs N balance the lift of the wing I) the action being the same as before described.

It will be seen that as the curvature of the wing is maintained by the span wires X; this yielding or ti ping does not change the curvature but on y the angle at which the wind strikes the wing, and in this sense the wing may be said to be practically rigid. The automatic regulation may be applied to any, or all of the Wings as desired; also the voluntary regulation; and where the regulating device is not used, the wing is supported by a post or stay.

In using the machine as a glider, the operator stands between the rails Gr, grasping the posts F, and en )porting the rear of the machine by the iadded bar P which rests on the small of his back. When the proper velocity is acquired, the oierators weight is supported by the bars resting under the arms. A swinging seat may be used when desired, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the device here shown the wings are arched. I may however employ plane surfaces in the application or embodiment of my invention.

I claim I 1.. An apparatus substantially as herein described, comprising a series of super )osed aeroplanes arranged in step form with the several surfaces each in advance of the next lower one, a series of transversely inclined struts connected to the front portions of the respective wings, rearwardly extending posts, a spine carried by said posts, a fin su ported by said spine, stay wires between t e rear- 'wardly projecting posts and the inclined struts, and yielding supports for the rear edges of the several win 's whereby to secure an automatic regulation thereof, and means cooperating with said yielding supports whereby to secure a controlled regulation of the rear edges of the wings, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An apparatus substantially as described, comprising a plurality of superposed aeroplanes arranged in step form advancing successively from the lower to the upper aero )lane and an inclined truss supporting saii aeroplanes and consisting of inclined transverse struts connected to the front edges of the said aeroplanes, and means staying the said inclined struts, and yielding supports for the rear portions of said aeroplanes whereby the latter may be tilted upwardly at their rear edges under abnormal pressure.

3. An apparatus substantially as described, comprising a plurality of superposed aeroplanes arranged in step form and advancing successively from the lower to the upper aeroplane, and inclined transverse struts extending across the front edges of the aeroplanes secured thereto, and suitably stayed.

.4. An apparatus of the aeroplane type, comprising a series of practically rigid wings arranged in stepped form and advancing successively from the lower to the upper one, yielding devices independent of said wings and permitting the rcaredges thereof to automatically tilt up, and means for positively depressing such rear portions of the wings.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described. the combination with an aeroplane yicldingly supported at its rear edge, of a spring for he ding said edge from downward movement under normal pressure, a spring for permitting said edge to yield u wardly under abnormal pressure and means or positively depressing such edge of the plane substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with an aeroplane adapted to yield upwardly at'its rear edge and the frame of a support between said yielding rear edge and the frame, comprising a rod and a bar movablerelatively to each other, a, spring normally extending said parts, and means for depressing the rear edge of the aero lane in opposition to said spring substantial y as set forth.

7. The combination with an aeroplane and a frame bar of a yielding su port between said frame bar and plane anv comprising a rod or bar extendingin both directions beyond the frame bar, and springs on opposite sides of the frame bar and actuating the yielding support.

S. The combination of an aeroplane, a frame bar, a rod having a longitudinal bore at its upper end and an extending bar at its lower end, a guide on the frame bar for such extending bar, a rod or bar movable longitudinally in the bore of the first named bar and connected at its uppcrcnd with the aeroplane, and a spring between the aeroplane and the said first named bar, substantia ly as set forth.

9. An apparatus substantially as described, comprising a series of aeroplanes arranged in step form and advancing successively from the lower to the upper plane, and a frame supporting said aeroplanes and comprising a series of inclined struts extending across and secured to the front edges of the several aeroplanes, base bars extending forwardly from the lower ends of the inclined struts, posts extending between the said base bars and the inclined struts, and devices interposed between the inclined struts and the rear edges of the aeroplanes for support ing the same substantially as set forth.

1(). The combination in an apparatus substantially as described of a series of aeroplanes arranged in step form and advancing successively from the lower to the upper plane, a series of inclined struts extending across the front edges of the several aerolanes and secured thereto, devices support ing the rear edges of the aeroplanes from the said struts, a in or keel in rear of the aeroplanes, posts supporting the same from the inclined struts, and stay devices for bracing the keel supporting posts in position, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination in an apparatus substantially as described, of a series of aeroplanes arranged in step form and advancing toward the upper plane, and a frame supporting said aero lanes and having basebars and a cross bar etween the base bars and adapted to bear a ainst the back of the operator, substantially as set forth.

MATTHEW B. SELLERS.

Witnesses:

A. L. SELLERS, S. C. SELLERS. 

